The firste parte of the Christian instruction, and generall so[m]me of the doctrine, conteyned in the holy Scriptures wherein the principall pointes of the religion are familiarly handled by dialogues, very necessary to be read of all Christians. Translated into Englishe, by Iohn Shute, accordyng to the late copy set forth, by th'author Maister Peter Viret. 1565. Ouersene and perused, accordyng to the order appointed, by the Queenes maiesties iniunctions.

¶ The contentes of the second Dia∣logue named the waitinge for the Councell, or the Nevvtrall Gospellers, to vvit, suche as vvill deale betvvene the true & false Religion & doctrine.

[unspec 1] BYcause, that the lookynge for a generall Councell, to appease the troubles y^t are in Christendome in causes of Religion, doth feede and entertayne many poore igno∣raunt men in vayne hope, and doth let thē from the diligent searchynge out of those thinges, that belong to their saluation, I haue determined fully to entreate of the matter in Dialogues folowing, in whiche I will playnely declare, what hope the Christians may haue of a Coūcel, and what they may thinck wil come of it, and how hard it wilbe to assemble it, and what issue, or what good, or euil we ought to looke for of it, and what profite the lawfull Councelles maye bryng to Christian∣tie, and whiche is the true Councell, vpon the which y^e true Christians ought to repose and to instructe theyr conscien∣ces. And in handling of these matters, I wil touch chiefly in this Dialogue, what hope wee maye haue in such affaires, as wel of their part, that are called Prelates of the Church, as of the parte of the Christian princes, as they haue gyuen vs well and sufficiently to know by examples, and by expe∣rience that we haue had already of the Councell of Trent. And after that there is some thing sayd of the Interim, and of such soliciters & worckers as will ioyne Iesus Christ, & Antichriste together, & in stede of Christiās, make Samari∣tās, & of the opinion of such as say, y^t the Coūcel cā not erre, which is also continued in y^e other Dialogues folowing, in y^e which I do a little paint & set forth, y^e maner of proceding,

whiche the Papistes obserue in their Councels, and I do cō¦pare it with that, whiche God did vse in his Councel that he helde with his people, first in the moūt of Synay, and after that in the hill of Sion. I do shew also what preparatiō ther ought to be for the doctrine of such Councels, and how that those two Councels, conteine all the doctrine of the old and new Testament, & how they do so agree together, that they both tend to one, vpon whō onely it behoueth vs all to stay. Wherupon also I make mention of the agrement and diffe¦rence that may be betwene the old and newe Testamēt, be∣twene Moses and Iesus Christ, betwene the law & the Gos∣spell, and the law which is called the lawe of grace, and the law of rigour, & of the abolishing & also of the vsage of y^e law of Moses, and of the vengeance of God, which is prepared a∣gaynst those that will not willingly receyue the Decrees, & Canons, of this great and godly Councel, and shall abuse his worde, and of the great grace: whiche he hath offered to men, in his sonne Iesus Christ our Lord, which things shal be entreated of euery one in his place. And as touching this present Dialogue, I haue intituled it, the waitynge for the Coūcell, or the newtrals, in respect of the principall matters that therin are handled or entreated of.